Best time to visit Montreal
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Montreal
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Montreal).
- 1
Helicopter Tour Over Montreal - 2
Montreal Mile End Food Tour with Bagel, Poutine & 7 Tastings - 3
Montreal Mile End Guided Food Tour by Local Montreal Tours - 4
Full-Day Quebec City Tour plus Sightseeing Cruise - 5
Quebec City and Montmorency Falls Day Trip from Montreal - 6
From Montreal: Quebec City One Day Trip with Hotel Pickup - 7
From Montreal: Quebec City & Montmorency Falls Full Day Trip - 8
Montreal Premium Driving Tour with River Cruise and Notre Dame - 9
Laurentian Mountains Day Trip From Montreal - 10
The Bagel Class presents : Montreal Bagel Making Workshop! - 11
Old Montreal Guided Food Tour with 6+ Local Delicacies Tastings - 12
Old Montreal Private Walking Tour - 13
PRIVATE 1-Hour Tour Old-Montreal in Vintage Convertible Cadillac - 14
Sunset Boat tour on the St Lawrence River Old Port Montreal(1hrs) - 15
PRIVATE 2-Hour tour of Montréal in Convertible Cadillac + Murals - 16
Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours - 17
Toronto & Niagara Falls 2 Days Tour - 18
The Only Locally Owned Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio - 19
The Original Montreal Mural Arts Tour by Spade & Palacio - 20
Montréal Downtown and Underground City Private Walking Tour - 21
The Essential 101 Non-Touristy Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio - 22
The Original Old Montréal Walking Tour by Guidatour - 23
Walking tour of Old Montreal - 16/42 Tours - 24
The Full-Day small-group comprehensive tour of Montreal - 25
Montreal eBike Sightseeing Tour - 26
Bike / E-bike tour : Plateau, Mile-End, Jean-Talon Market by Fitz - 27
Curling Experience in Montreal - 28
Mont Tremblant Private Day Tour from Montreal - 29
Ottawa City One Day Tour - 30
Panorama Sightseeing Tour Of The Historic Lachine Rapids
Last refreshed 2026-08-13.
Similar climatesOttawa98% · Quebec City93% · Algonquin Park92%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Montreal (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Montreal's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -12–-4 | -9 | 11 | 150 | 13.6 | 76% | 18 | 109 | 1 | Quiet | 3 |
| Feb | -12–-2 | -8 | 11 | 141 | 12.8 | 71% | 21 | 131 | 2 | Quiet | 3 |
| Mar | -5–4 | 0 | 11 | 145 | 13.2 | 61% | 22 | 176 | 3 | Quiet | 4 |
| Apr | 1–12 | 8 | 11 | 144 | 13.1 | 55% | 22 | 185 | 4 | Quiet | 5 |
| May | 9–20 | 17 | 8 | 89 | 11.1 | 49% | 20 | 252 | 5 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jun | 15–25 | 24 | 13 | 141 | 10.8 | 56% | 19 | 241 | 5 | Busy | 8 |
| Jul | 18–27 | 28 | 13 | 139 | 10.7 | 61% | 18 | 271 | 6 | Busy | 8 |
| Aug | 17–25 | 26 | 14 | 154 | 11.0 | 64% | 17 | 239 | 5 | Peak | 7 |
| Sep | 13–21 | 21 | 8 | 90 | 11.3 | 64% | 17 | 209 | 4 | Quiet | 9 |
| Oct | 7–15 | 12 | 12 | 130 | 10.8 | 66% | 19 | 164 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Nov | 0–7 | 3 | 10 | 107 | 10.7 | 65% | 20 | 128 | 1 | Quiet | 5 |
| Dec | -6–1 | -4 | 13 | 177 | 13.6 | 71% | 20 | 92 | 1 | Quiet | 3 |
UV Index in Montreal by Month
UV index in Montreal peaks at 6 (moderate) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in December.
Best months in detail
May
9/109–20°C (feels 17°C) · 8 rain days (89h) · 252 sun hours · 49% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
September
9/1013–21°C · 8 rain days (90h) · 209 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
June
8/1015–25°C · 13 rain days (141h) · 241 sun hours · 56% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
3/10-12–-4°C (feels -9°C) · 11 rain days (150h) · 109 sun hours · 76% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
3/10-12–-2°C (feels -8°C) · 11 rain days (141h) · 131 sun hours · 71% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
4/10-5–4°C (feels 0°C) · 11 rain days (145h) · 176 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
April
5/101–12°C (feels 8°C) · 11 rain days (144h) · 185 sun hours · 55% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (moderate)
July
8/1018–27°C · 13 rain days (139h) · 271 sun hours · 61% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
August
7/1017–25°C · 14 rain days (154h) · 239 sun hours · 64% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
October
6/107–15°C (feels 12°C) · 12 rain days (130h) · 164 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
November
5/100–7°C (feels 3°C) · 10 rain days (107h) · 128 sun hours · 65% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
December
3/10-6–1°C (feels -4°C) · 13 rain days (177h) · 92 sun hours · 71% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
Comparisons people search for
Pairs validated by Google Autocomplete demand — only pairs people actually compare.
Thirty-three kilometres of city, indoors
Montréal's answer to its winter is the RÉSO — an interconnected underground network of some 33 kilometres linking metro stations, office towers, shopping centres, universities, hotels, cinemas and concert halls. It is the largest underground complex in the world, and on an average day around half a million people move through it.
It began in 1962 with Place Ville Marie and expanded with the Metro from 1966. In practice it means you can cross much of downtown, eat, shop, get to a concert and reach your hotel without going outside at all — in a city where January regularly sits well below freezing.
It does not make winter warm, but it changes what a cold month means for a visitor. Downtown Montréal in February is navigable in a way that most northern cities are not.
Sources: Tourisme Montréal — guide to the Underground City , Wikipedia — Underground City, Montreal
What month is best to visit Montreal?
June to September for the festival season and outdoor life, with September especially pleasant — warm days, thinner crowds and the start of autumn colour. February has its own appeal, with Montréal en Lumière and a downtown you can cross underground, if you are prepared for real cold: January lows average around −14C.
How many days do you need in Montreal?
Three. One for Old Montréal and the port, one for the Plateau and Mile End, one for Mount Royal and the museums. Add a day if you are continuing to Québec City, which is about three hours away and pairs naturally. In winter, allow a little more — moving around is slower, and you will want indoor breaks built into each day.
What is the cheapest month to go to Montreal?
January to March, excluding festival weekends. Rates drop sharply after the holidays, and the Underground City — which links métro stations, malls and offices — makes a cold-weather trip far more practical than a −14C average low suggests. You can cross much of the core without going outside, which is why the city functions normally all winter.
Are winters harsh in Montreal?
Yes, by most standards — January lows average around −14C and snow lies for months. The city is built for it, with the Underground City linking métro stations, malls and offices, so daily life continues regardless. Winter visitors should plan for genuine cold rather than treating it as a mild inconvenience.
Which is colder, Montreal or Quebec City?
Quebec City, by a clear margin. Its January lows average about −16C against Montreal's −14C, and it sits further northeast with more snow. Quebec City's Winter Carnival leans into that; Montreal's winter is marginally more forgiving but still severe.
What time of year is best to avoid crowds in Montreal?
Late autumn and early spring — roughly late October to early December, and April into early May. You miss the summer festival season and the winter carnival period, hotel rates drop, and the city's museums and restaurants are easy to get into. April can be grey as the snow melts.
What is the rainy season in Montreal?
October is the wettest month at around 111 mm, with February driest at about 61 mm — though much of the winter total falls as snow rather than rain. Precipitation is spread fairly evenly year-round; there is no dry season, and summer brings short thunderstorms.
What is nicer, Quebec City or Montreal?
Quebec City is the more picturesque — a walled colonial old town, compact and easily walked, and stronger for a short first visit. Montreal is far larger with better food, festivals and nightlife, and more to sustain a longer stay. They are about three hours apart and pair well.
What should I not miss in Montreal?
Old Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica, whose interior is the city's single most striking sight; Mount Royal for the view over downtown; the Jean-Talon and Atwater markets; and the Plateau's outdoor staircases and murals. Eat bagels and smoked meat — the local versions differ enough from elsewhere to be the point.
Is it better to visit Toronto or Montreal?
Montreal for atmosphere, food and the French-speaking character, with a walkable historic core. Toronto is larger, more modern and more international, with better museums and as a base for Niagara Falls. Montreal generally wins for a short leisure trip; Toronto has the wider range if you want a big-city break.
Is Montreal a good tourist destination?
Very — it combines a European-feeling old town with a strong food scene and a heavy festival calendar in summer, at lower cost than most North American cities. The main caveat is winter: January lows average around −14C, though the Underground City makes even a February visit more practical than the number implies.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Montreal
When is the best time to visit Montreal?
May is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 9–20°C (8 rainy days). The top three months by score are May, September, June.
What is the worst time to visit Montreal?
January is the lowest-scoring month (3/10, capped by extreme cold). Typical conditions: -12–-4°C (11 rainy days).
Is Montreal too cold in winter?
2 months (January, February) cross our cold deal-breaker (apparent temperature below the cap). Doable with the right gear, but expect the climate score to be held down by the gate.
When are crowds lowest in Montreal?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in January and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Montreal have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 9/10, crowd index 25) and September (climate 9/10, crowd index 38) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Montreal by month?
UV peaks at 6 (moderate) in July and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 4, May 5, Jun 5, Jul 6, Aug 5, Sep 4, Oct 2, Nov 1, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Montreal in July?
July is the peak UV month in Montreal, with a daily-peak UV index of 6 (moderate). Standard sun protection — sunglasses and light SPF — is recommended.
How high can UV get in Montreal on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 5 (moderate), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, June, July, August, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Montreal bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 10 months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, December. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 18 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 32 µg/m³ (unhealthy) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.